Caterpillar Marine to develop innovative hybrid tug with Sanmar Shipyards
Caterpillar Marine is pleased to announce a collaboration with Sanmar Shipyards in Istanbul, Turkey to build an innovative tugboat with a hydraulic hybrid propulsion system, the company said in its press release. The Cat® Marine Advanced Variable Drive™ (AVD) is a patented system leveraging Caterpillar’s extensive experience with integrated power systems technology. Sanmar is the largest tug builder in Turkey with over forty years of experience and known as a market leader at the forefront of the tug building industry.
The AVD system provides significant improvements in both fuel efficiency and vessel performance through a fully integrated hydro-mechanical propulsion system.
“Different from a typical Power Take In (PTI) solution, the AVD incorporates a planetary gear set allowing seamless clutch engagement of main engines, auxiliary engines, or both to provide a scalable power installation to meet any customer need in terms of maximum vessel speed, power, or bollard pull,” said Nathan Kelly, product definition engineer for Caterpillar Marine. “This also allows propeller speed independent of engine speed so optimal engine efficiency can be achieved leading to fuel savings of fifteen-to-twenty-percent. Essentially, all the benefits of a variable speed Diesel Electric Propulsion (DEP) system at a fraction of the cost and size,” said Kelly.
The AVD system is also flexible and can accommodate multiple configurations. Auxiliary engines can be utilized to accommodate low load or transit operations greatly extending time to overhaul and reducing service costs on main engines. Electric motors can be used instead of hydraulics if required. Diesel engines can be substituted by natural gas engines as the AVD system provides superior vessel performance regardless of engine load acceptance. Main engines can also be downsized with supplemental power provided via auxiliary engines or generators if electric motors are used.
The Sanmar hydraulic hybrid tug will be a Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAmparts 2400SX harbor tug incorporating an integrated Caterpillar AVD system of 3512 main engines, a C32 auxiliary engine, Cat MTA 627 fixed pitch tug thrusters, and bridge controls. It will carry Fifi 1 designation with 70T metric bollard pull. The AVD system will also include a fully integrated controls system with customizable operating modes and display panels at the bridge. Compared to a conventional tug with equivalent bollard pull, the Return on Investment (ROI) is estimated at three years or less based on projected fuel and operating cost savings.
Cat marine power and propulsion solutions are backed by the worldwide Cat® dealer network with trained technicians to ensure service support is never out of reach. To meet the experts and learn more about Caterpillar Hybrid Propulsion Systems, stop by the Caterpillar exhibit #2701 at the 2017 International Workboat Show to be held November 29 – December 1 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
About Sanmar A.S.
Sanmar is in the business of operating tugboats, providing pilotage services and building tugs and workboats. With up-to-date equipment and well-trained and experienced crew, Sanmar provides a huge variety of services in various ports and around the coastline of Turkey. The tugs and workboats that Sanmar operates are constructed by the company’s own ship building department at two custom-built yards. Sanmar also supports its customers by providing technical consultancy services in advising the most appropriate tug and workboat design and equipment that will meet their operational needs.
About Caterpillar Marine
Caterpillar Marine, with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, groups all the marketing and service activities for Cat and MaK™ marine diesel, dual fuel and gas power and propulsion systems within Caterpillar Inc. The organization provides premier power solutions in the medium- and high-speed segments with outputs from 93 to 16,800 kW in main propulsion and 10 to 16,100 kWe in marine generator sets as well as a comprehensive portfolio of propulsion solutions. The sales and service network includes more than 2,100 dealer locations world-wide dedicated to support customers in ocean-going, commercial marine and pleasure craft wherever they are.
About Caterpillar
For over 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2016 sales and revenues of $38.5 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment.